Timothee Chalamet now slammed by Steven Spielberg ahead of Oscars amid ‘Stop Timmy’ campaign

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Steven Spielberg is the newest celebrity to publicly criticize Timothée Chalamet’s recent comments dismissing opera and ballet.

The 30-year-old said this candidly while discussing with Matthew McConaughey whether movie theaters will be able to stay in business.

In a conversation with Variety’s Actors on Actors, he explained that he doesn’t want to work in fields like ballet or opera—basically, anything where the focus is on maintaining something that’s lost its relevance or public interest.

Chalamet, up for an Oscar this Sunday for his role in ‘Marty Supreme,’ jokingly said he’s lost some viewers by mentioning ballet and opera. He added that he felt like he’d made an unnecessary and potentially unpopular statement.

His remarks sparked strong criticism from many figures in the theater world, including acclaimed ballerina Misty Copeland and veteran actor Nathan Lane.

Steven Spielberg, a three-time Oscar winner, has publicly criticized Timothée Chalamet, joining a growing wave of disapproval. Sources recently revealed to the Daily Mail that a campaign, nicknamed ‘Stop Timmy,’ is gaining momentum as the Academy Awards approach.

During a discussion at the South by Southwest film festival, Spielberg subtly criticized Timothée Chalamet while also sharing his thoughts on the future of movie theaters.

He explained that the most impactful moments happen when they can bring people together in an unusual, dimly lit environment where everyone is new to each other.

He explained, according to Variety, that truly great movies, concerts, ballets, and operas all leave us with a shared, powerful emotional experience that stays with us long after it ends.

The crowd reacted enthusiastically to the playful jab at Timothée Chalamet, and Spielberg happily added that he hoped the good-natured fun would continue indefinitely.

Timothée Chalamet made a playful jab at opera and ballet while talking with Matthew McConaughey about celebrities who publicly support cinemas.

He explained that he and others have often discussed the importance of supporting movie theaters and the film genre on talk shows.

He also pointed out that if people are excited about a movie like Barbie or Oppenheimer, they’ll make sure to see it and share their enthusiasm. He contrasted this with opera and ballet, which don’t typically attract such a broad, vocal audience.

After apologizing for his critical comment about the art form, McConaughey clarified, ‘I didn’t mean that as a criticism; I understand your point.’

People who love opera and ballet were very upset by Timothée Chalamet’s remarks, and two classical singers publicly criticized him for them.

Opera star Isabel Leonard expressed her surprise that someone who appears so successful could be so lacking in eloquence and have such limited views on art, especially considering they identify as an artist – something she’d expect more from an actor.

Mezzo-soprano Deepa Johnny, a Canadian singer, expressed her disappointment with a recent viewpoint, stating that nothing compares to the special experience of seeing live theatre, ballet, or opera. She believes we should support these art forms and the artists who create them, encouraging collaboration across different creative fields, as these performances can have a profound and lasting impact on people’s lives.

Actor Nathan Lane, known for his Oscar nomination and three Tony Awards, strongly criticized Timothée Chalamet, calling him a ‘schmuck’ during a discussion on the talk show, The View.

He admitted it didn’t warrant much focus, but described it as a bizarre mix of foolishness and thoughtlessness.

This really highlights our current cultural moment. Classic art like ‘Swan Lake’ and ‘La Traviata’ will endure long after people forget the latest celebrity trends, like who Timothée Chalamet is.

Lane responded to Marty Supreme’s dismissive comment by sarcastically saying that if Marty believed no one was interested in opera and ballet, then they definitely weren’t interested in ping pong either.

He jokingly suggested that because the incident involved Matthew McConaughey, it’s possible drugs were involved, and it was simply an unfortunate situation.

However, singer Adela, a Slovak pop artist who started her career as a ballerina and now opens for Demi Lovato on tour, spoke out in support of Chalamet.

Okay, so the paparazzi cornered her at LAX, and when they brought up Timmy’s comments, she totally downplayed it! She basically said everyone was overreacting, which, honestly, they ARE. Like, can’t people just let him live? She was so calm and collected, trying to smooth things over, and it just made me love her even more. It’s all just being blown way out of proportion, I knew it!

She acknowledged seeing the comment but didn’t believe it was intended negatively. She felt it was okay, adding that he had a point – ballet is becoming less common, which is unfortunate. She thought his comment simply drew attention to that fact. While people seemed upset, she explained that, as a ballerina, she understood his perspective and believed more people should attend ballet performances. She even suggested the controversy might be beneficial publicity.

World-renowned Italian singer Andrea Bocelli also offered a kind reaction, and he’s a popular figure with Kim Kardashian – whose sister, Kylie Jenner, is currently dating Timothée Chalamet.

The renowned singer believes that Timothée Chalamet, known for his emotional depth as an actor, might eventually realize that opera and dance also rely heavily on expressing and connecting with feelings, as stated in a recent announcement to People magazine.

If he’s ever interested, I’d be glad to have him attend one of my concerts. Experiencing this music live can quickly show you why it’s remained popular for centuries.

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2026-03-14 06:07